NEWS

Demonstrators demand special session on gun control

In the midst of the continued grieving over the Pulse shooting, pleas are being made to Florida state lawmakers to take action to prevent gun violence. Amanda Ober was there as protesters demanded a special session on gun control measures.

In the days since the Pulse attack, advocates for gun control have sparked a renewed debate on the issue.

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Many are calling for change in Florida.

In the midst of the continued grieving over the Pulse shooting, pleas are being made to state lawmakers to take action. On Tuesday, demonstrators took to the streets of Orlando.

A grassroots group marched from Senate President Andy Gardiner's office to the office of state Rep. Mike Miller. They called on the Republican lawmakers to hold a special session on gun control measures.

"I'm proud to announce that we submitted 46 letters from legislators to the secretary of state this morning to request a special session to ban terrorists from possessing firearms in Florida," state Sen. Darren Soto, a Democrat representing the 14th District, said.

Also on Tuesday, a group of Democrat lawmakers announced with more than 20 percent of the lawmakers writing in, the secretary of state must now poll the entire body on the question of whether to hold a special session. Those pushing for it want Florida to pass a law to prevent people who are on the terrorist or no fly watch lists from buying guns. It would also require that law enforcement be notified when an individual who has been investigated for terrorist activity tries to buy a gun.

Gardiner released a statement Tuesday saying he would oppose the session. He said: "...Absent federal action, Florida cannot pass a law to require the federal government to turn over sensitive information regarding investigations of terrorism. A special session of the Florida Legislature cannot take the place of leadership in Washington."

The polling of lawmakers on whether to hold a special session must take place in the next seven days. If a special session of the Florida Legislature is not called, they don't convene again until early 2017.